Macy's Controversial Santa Claus Cancellation in 2020

On October 22, 2020, Macy's announced that Santa Claus would not be making in-store appearances at their department stores due to the COVID-19 pandemic, breaking a tradition that had been in place since 1861. Instead, Macy's offered a virtual experience where families could interact with Santa online. Other retailers also adopted virtual Santa experiences in 2020. However, in 2021, Macy's brought back in-person visits with Santa Claus in select cities, implementing COVID-19 safety measures such as masking and advanced reservations.